The Association for the Study of Esotericism (ASE) is seeking paper and panel proposals for its seventh International North American Conference on Esotericism to be held at Rice University, in Houston, Texas, May 24-27, 2018.

We are seeking proposals for papers exploring the theme “Eros, Sexuality, and Embodiment in Esoteric Traditions.” Esoteric writings offer a range of possibilities for investigating both literal and figurative erotic and sexual configurations, from the allegorical couplings of alchemy, to the practices of Valentinian Gnosticism, to descriptions of angelic sex in Ida Craddock. Connectedly, esoteric thinkers have described numerous unusual ways to embodiment, from phenomena of divine possession, to the making of magical children, to golems and animated statues.

We are also interested in papers on Western esoteric practices, including theories, representations and methods of practice viewed from cultural, practical, religious and aesthetic fields of inquiry. We encourage papers that address the conference theme in terms of diverse types of representation, including arts and literature, as well as methods that reflect specific theories of esotericism, either historically or in a contemporary context. We invite proposals on magic, alchemy, astrology, ritual practice, mysticism, spiritualism, occultism, hermeticism, neo-paganism, contemporary esoteric movements and teachers, Asian influences on Western traditions, and other relevant topics. We are interested in panels specifically on mysticism, contemplative practice, and other topics related to the conference theme. ASE regards esotericism as an interdisciplinary field of research and we invite scholars from all disciplines to share their research and writings in support of a cross-fertilization of perspectives.

Our deadline for panel or paper proposal submission is December 15th, 2017.

If you wish to submit a paper proposal or a thematically focused panel proposal (with three presenters and short descriptions included) for review and possible presentation at the conference, please send it by email to ASEconference@rice.edu

Association for the Study of Esotericism and Mysticism ‒ Center for the Study of Religion, Russian State University for the Humanities ‒ Art Deco Museum (Moscow):

Second Call for Papers ‒ Ninth International Conference on Mystic and Esoteric Movements in Theory and Practice: Mysticism and Esotericism in Russia and Other Post-Soviet Countries. 9-11 November 2017, Moscow

For hundreds of years, a wide variety of mystic and esoteric movements has been active in the large region which is currently home to a plethora of countries that have over the course of their history been part of Rus, Russia, and the Soviet Union. Some of these movements were part of the wider tradition of Western esotericism, interpreted through a local lens, others had an indigenous character, and yet others were influenced by Eastern teachings. Moreover, Russia and other post-Soviet countries produced a number of charismatic personalities who became the founders of particular esoteric traditions, which deeply influenced the esoteric makeup of the region. Contemporary Russia and other post-Soviet countries are also home to a plethora of esoteric communities, schools, and influential persons. Even though this wide spectrum of mystic and esoteric movements has been under study for quite some time now, there are many blank areas remaining which await their scholar.

The conference invites scholars specializing in the study of esotericism, scholars of religion, philosophers, historians, scholars of culture, psychologists, sociologists, and all other interested scholars to discuss the following range of topics:

methodological and terminological problems of the scholarly study of esotericism in the region;

conceptual foundations of mystic and esoteric movements in the region;

languages of self-description used by mystic and esoteric movements in Russia and other countries in the region;

main periods of the history of esotericism in Russia and other post-Soviet countries;

mysticism and esotericism in literature and art of the region;

Soviet esotericism;

characteristic aspects of esotericism in Russia and other contemporary post-Soviet countries;

mystic aspects of philosophy in countries of the region;

the Western context of Russian esotericism in countries of the region;

Eastern influence on esotericism and mysticism in post-Soviet countries.

Working languages: Russian, English

Applications for the conference for participants from CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, ex-USSR) countries are to be sent to the address of the organizing committee, esoterra.asem@gmail.com, by 01.10.2017. Due to possible visa concerns, we request that applications from participants outside of the CIS are sent by 01.09.2017. We kindly request participants to provide the following information:

Full name:

Date of birth:

Academic degree (if applicable):

Home address:

Place of work/study (if applicable):

Position:

Telephone number:

E-mail:

Need of an official invitation to receive an entry visa to the Russian Federation (yes/no):

Necessary equipment for your presentation (yes (specify)/no):

Title of paper:

Abstract:

The applicant is also required to attach a photo of themselves, no more than 1Mb in size.

Applications for panels are accepted until 01.10.2017. Panel applications need to follow the general application form outlined above. Additionally, the panel organizer needs to provide the approximate number of panel participants and a preliminary program.

A completed application does not guarantee acceptance to the conference. The organizing committee reserves the right to ask for additional information from applicants to specify unclear applications. Decisions on applications are made by the organizing committee within a week after the application deadline. Applicants will be informed of the committee’s decision by e-mail.

Remote participation in the conference is not provided for.

A conference program including information about participants and their abstracts will be published and provided to the participants before the start of the conference. It will also be available on the ASEM website.

The conference fee is differentiated according to ASEM membership and geographical location of the participant (see table below):

Conference participants

ASEM members

ASEM non-members

Residents of CIS countries

500 roubles

1000 roubles

Residents of non-CIS countries

10 Euros

30 Euros

The organizational fee will be used to cover the costs of organizing the conference as well as the publication of conference papers, which is planned after the conference takes place. The conference fee is paid at the time of registration.

The organizational fee does not include transportation, lodging, food or possible additional services (tours, museums, and so on). The organizing committee does not provide lodging for conference participants; however, it will provide information on local options at the request of an accepted participant.

Attending the conference without giving a paper is free for ASEM members, as well as the professors and students of the host university. All others must pay an organizational fee, the size of which will be announced later.

The organizing committee is open to propositions of material and informational support from interested physical and legal persons.

The deadline to apply for funding to travel to the ESSWE6 conference in Erfurt is April 1, 2017. Decisions will be announced on April 10, 2017. Please see the Bursaries page for application form and more information!

The purpose of this 5-volume edition is to collate diverse rare print and manuscript materials that provide a broad spectrum of insights into the history and culture of Freemasonry in the British Isles between 1717 and 1813. This collection is the result of extensive archival research and transcription and highlights the most significant themes associated with British and Irish Freemasonry during the period in question. The volumes draw on a wide range of documents, including an engraved list of lodges, rituals (some originally written in cipher), rules and regulations, by-laws, funeral services, lectures, charges, sermons, orations, certificates, theatrical prologues and epilogues, pamphlets, newspaper and magazine articles and letters. A special emphasis is placed on documents that enhance our present understanding of the role that British and Irish Freemasons played in the formation of eighteenth-century society and associational culture. Analysis of these documents will hopefully foster scholarly debate and offer new perspectives on wider historical, cultural, social and religious themes.

Many of the texts included in these volumes remain very difficult to consult outside masonic archives. Such institutions store many rare eighteenth-century items, which are not recorded in the English Short Title Catalogue and are thus excluded from digital collections. For example, the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London has not previously given permission to fully reproduce rituals of the so-called higher degrees. Hence, the rituals included in this edition are published here for the first time in their entirety and with annotations. Furthermore, this edition reproduces texts that were overlooked by masonic historians in their publications.

You can find more information about the edition at the Routledge website:

The Japanese Network for the Academic Study of Esotericism (JNASE) is a group of scholarly researchers of esotericism founded in 2016. The main objective of the group is to clarify how far the term “esotericism” could be applied to the Asian history of religions. Click here to learn more about JNASE >

In 2016, ESSWE introduced the Sponsorship Programme for Independent Scholarly Initiatives. We are now opening for applications for the 2017 bid. We will accept applications until January 31, 2017. Please read more about the requirements, procedure, and budget frameworks here.